A Psalm of Hope

Sometimes you have to encourage yourself in the midst of a struggle. This is a psalm I wrote to cope with frustrations, but also reminding me of the God I serve. I pray that it encourages you.

 

Oh God, you have hidden me from man!  You make me to be quiet in the face of my inner turmoil.  I cannot be comforted by others words nor does my heart understand the wait. Yet God, you will keep me.  You will sustain me.  You will not forget your servant.  Though I have failed you time and time again, you accept my remorseful heart and lift me up out of my condemnation.  You will not forget my name though you take your time to call it out loud.  When you call me I will come running and I will rejoice for you will remember your servant.  You will sing over me and rejoice with me.  I know full well that I belong to you and that the enemy cannot take me.  You have fought the darkest waters and saved my drowning soul.  You love your servant though your voice is quiet.  Oh God I call out to you in my tears, do not forget me here!  If it is not my time to come home to you, make my waters here sweet.  Let there be dancing and singing.  For I know that I do not deserve the honor, but oh God that you would elevate an unworthy servant for your namesake! Your glory would be my claim to righteousness. I AM your beloved.  I am your daughter and your body.  You cannot forsake your hands or your feet and I walk this life for you though at times, it may be a painful crawl.  I look to you to be my rescue.  You will rescue me from my doubt, my own fleshly desires, my sins and my fear. Lord I will call to you and you will come swiftly for you hear my prayers.

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A Babe Was Born, Did You Miss It?

One prayer that I frequently pray for myself is: “God help me to see you move today in my life or someone else’s.  God don’t let me miss you today!”

Today in church was a pretty typical service, except that it really wasn’t.  The strange thing is that I guarantee you most people missed it.  We went through the typical things -singing the songs, reading the scriptures, praying for people in need, getting a word from the pastor…and then the closing song.  The closing song was a pretty ordinary song, (so much so that I don’t remember the words or what it was even called).  However, there was a gentleman in the very back row with his wife so moved by the song, and the Christmas spirit, that at the end of the song he shouts “Hope was born!”  Now it wasn’t so loud that people on the other side of the church would hear it, but it was loud enough that those in rows close to him were startled, except, dear reader, for me. 

Are We There Yet?

Originally Written 2013

I thought I would share some thoughts on the front lines of this thing called life.  A challenge that I’m continually faced with is learning patience. I have been in graduate school for the past three years studying the art of counseling.  It has seemed like an eternity although those around me have said the time has flown.  As this season closes and a new one begins, I’ve found myself STRUGGLING.  Anyone that knows me knows that I’m a planner and I am comfortable with familiar people and routines.

I know I’m a counselor, but I do not like change!  And please don’t add change with a waiting period.  And please, please don’t say that there will be change, a waiting period and say things will be ambiguous.   This is a recipe for me to lose my mind!!!  Currently I have been tested with all three things.  Oh the horror!  As I get closer to my new season, I have been so anxious the past few weeks, and the enemy in the form of doubt had entered the building.  I wondered would I really be able to offer the future kids I will work with, the counselor they need?  Many of my new clients have been through so much.  What do I say?  They need a “real” counselor, not lil ol’ me!  Will the kids like me?  There are so many new people to get to know and I’m feeling overwhelmed.  I almost cried at the fear that was rising in my body.

Turning 32

With exactly a month to go to my 33rd birthday I thought I would post an article I wrote for my church in 2014.  Yes I know that’s quite the head start! Can you tell I’m excited about 33?  LOL! Dear reader, I love to celebrate birthdays and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for this one.

TURNING 32

• How I see me: long-winded, sleep-challenged, friend, and unorganized
• How the Zodiac sees me: passionate, obsessive, unyielding and resourceful
• How God sees me: creative, wonderful (Psalm 139:14), radiant (Philippians 2:15), and chosen (John 15:16)

A few years ago I hit the big 3-0. I was flooded with questions about how I felt. Was I scared to turn 30? Did I feel like life was slipping through my hands? Was I nervous to turn 30 and still be single? Many women shared with me how they would be 29 forever or that it was all down hill from here.

Lessons in Waiting

Dear reader, I will spill the beans…I am single and 32 years old.  The years after my college graduation have been hard and I have struggled in waiting for God’s timing to be married.  That said, in the last few years I have found a peace and contentment with my singleness.  THEN, God told me to start praying for my future husband and preparing myself for marriage.  I was excited when I first started praying.  Hello future hubby, here I come! And now I continue to pray, prepare and……wait. 

The Name of My Blog

Well dear reader, I FINALLY got my “About” page finished.  Yeah! I wanted to share the section about how my blog got it’s name for those who are curious.  To read the full “About” page you can click here.

Take care,
egal

The Name
Lots of blogs have cool and catchy names, but why would I pick a name like Enduring Understandings? A while back I had an amazing opportunity to work at a school in Colorado called Eagle Rock School & Professional Development Center.  It is an alternative high school and one thing the staff focused on teaching students when I was there was Enduring Understandings. The idea is that each class has a curriculum and concepts that students will need to master to complete the class.  However, each class should have a lesson or two that will endure/last long beyond the class.  The lesson should be something meaningful that a student will remember long after high school graduation.  Something that will endure.  When I got to thinking about a title for my blog I thought about how all the things God as Rabbi (teacher) has taught me.  They have been helpful tests and lessons that have lasted long beyond the moment that He taught me.  My hope is that my testimony on this blog will be lessons that will help you understand yourself and understand God better and that will endure.  I pray that you will run this race strong! My hope, dear reader, that your own journey will bring you closer to the Eternal Teacher because that is the best lesson learned.

And because I’m a teacher at heart, below are some definitions and scriptures.  Lol! There are lots of scriptures to talk about enduring and the power of a believer’s testimony, but here are two to think on.

Ecclesiastes 3:14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.

Psalm 119:2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart.

• Enduring understandings are statements summarizing important ideas and core processes that are central to a discipline and have lasting value beyond the classroom. They synthesize what students should understand—not just know or do—as a result of studying a particular content area.
• The word “curriculum” began as a Latin word which means “a race” or “the course of a race” (which in turn derives from the verb currere meaning “to run/to proceed”).

• Testimony: The statement or declaration of a witness under oath or affirmation, usually in court; evidence in support of a fact or statement; proof; open declaration or profession, as of faith. From the Latin meaning to function as a witness.

Paying the Cost of Staying in the Past

Today a dear friend was celebrating her birthday. I was looking forward to spending time with her and celebrating her victories. Since it was a special occasion I decided to go all out.  Now in my world, that means eye shadow and lip gloss. Lol! I had laid out my clothes the night before because I am time challenged and I really wanted to be on time for the festivities. Today I took my shower, got my shirt on, did my “make up” and agonized over which flip-flops said “birthday fun”. By this point I knew I was cutting it close with my time. But I breathed a sigh of relief as I looked at the time. Whew! I got the hard stuff over, now just to put on my shorts and I was good to go.

Well dear reader, you may be anticipating this, but this is where the plan fell apart.